Free Geo-Data (20 entries)

GSHHS (Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline Database)
Homepage: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/shorelines/gshhs.html
FreeGIS-summary on GSHHS ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

GSHHS is a high-resolution shoreline data set amalgamated from two data bases in the public domain. The data have undergone extensive processing and are free of internal inconsistencies such as erratic points and crossing segments. The shorelines are constructed entirely from hierarchically arranged closed polygons. The data can be used to simplify data searches and data selections, or to study the statistical characteristics of shorelines and land-masses. It comes with access software and routines to facilitate decimation based on a standard line-reduction algorithm.
Version: 1.2
License: -

GLOBE (Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation)
Homepage: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/topo/report/
FreeGIS-summary on GLOBE ; Last update: 11.02.2005 09:06:58.00 CET

GLOBE is an internationally designed, developed, and independently peer-reviewed global digital elevation model (DEM), at a latitude-longitude grid spacing of 30 arc-seconds. The ongoing project makes use of several data sources to attain high data quality. Important parts were taken from GTOPO30, but there are also additional contributions not part of GTOPO30. GLOBE provides data sets of two levels of quality: G.O.O.D. (Globally Only Open-access Data, unrestricted use) and B.A.D. (Best Available Data, restricted use for some regions). More information on these issues and the data set in general can be obtained from Online Documentation v1.0.
Version: 1.0
License: Public Domain

GTOPO30 (Global 30 Arc Second Elevation Data Set)
Homepage: http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/landdaac/gtopo30/gtopo30.html
FreeGIS-summary on GTOPO30 ; Last update: 26.07.2002 15:19:25.00 CEST

GTOPO30 is a global digital elevation model (DEM) with a horizontal grid spacing of 30 arc seconds (approximately 1 kilometer). GTOPO30 was derived from several raster and vector sources of topographic information. The data are hosted by the USGS.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

US Census 2000 TIGER/Line
Homepage: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tigerua/ua_tgr2k.html
FreeGIS-summary on US Census 2000 TIGER/Line ; Last update: 27.08.2002 11:45:29.00 CEST

The TIGER/Line files are a digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, political boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire United States. The data base contains information about these features such as their location in latitude and longitude, the name, the type of feature, address ranges for most streets, the geographic relationship to other features, and other related information. They are the public product created from the Census Bureaus TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) data base of geographic information. TIGER was developed at the Census Bureau to support the mapping and related geographic activities required by the decennial census and sample survey programs.
License: Public Domain

U.S. Street Map of Bruce Perens
Homepage: ftp://ftp.perens.com/pub/US-map/index.html
FreeGIS-summary on U.S. Street Map of Bruce Perens ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Bruce Perens maintains this free street map of which portions are based on the TIGER/Line(R) 1997 data. Please do not quickly download the data just for looking at them! You should carefully read about how Bruce proposes to approach this huge dataset.
Version: 0.0.1
License: GPL

TIGER/Line 1997
Homepage: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/GovData/info/tiger.html
FreeGIS-summary on TIGER/Line 1997 ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

The TIGER/Line files were created from the Census Bureau TIGER (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) data base of selected geographic and cartographic information. TIGER was developed at the Census Bureau to support the mapping and related geographic activities required by the decennial census and sample survey programs.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

Frida
Homepage: http://frida.intevation.org/
FreeGIS-summary on Frida ; Last update: 30.05.2003 20:26:41.00 CEST

This project developed a Free Dataset offering detailed geographic vector information for Osnabrück, Germany.
Version: 1.0
License: GNU General Public License

DCW (Digital Charts of the World) im Manifold-Format
Homepage: ftp://216.15.110.75/downloads/DCW/DCW_data/
FreeGIS-summary on DCW (Digital Charts of the World) im Manifold-Format ; Last update: 11.03.2005 14:09:37.00 CET

The company Manifold offers the DCW data as free downloadable data files which are only readable with proprietary Microsoft/Manifold programs.

An alternative (but unclear regarding licensing) is: http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/
Version: -
License: GPL

GLIS (Global Land Information System)
Homepage: http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/webglis
FreeGIS-summary on GLIS ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers numerous geographic data sets mainly for the area of the United States.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

Strat-Map
Homepage: http://www.tnris.state.tx.us/stratmap/
FreeGIS-summary on Strat-Map ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Strat-Map is the Strategic Mapping Initiative in Texas. StratMaps biggest advantage is that it promotes cooperation among users of geographic data. People interested in creating data, work together by cost sharing. The data are in the public domain so that everyone has access to the same material. This greatly reduces confusion and encourages groups to work together instead of constantly gathering (and recreating) data on their own.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

Yukon Renewable Resources 90 meter Digital Elevation Models
Homepage: http://renres.gov.yk.ca/pubs/rrgis/data/data_desc/90m_dem.html
FreeGIS-summary on Yukon Renewable Resources 90 meter Digital Elevation Models ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Digital elevation model of the Yukon Territory (Canada) with a resolution of 90m per pixel. The data are build from several sources of partly higher resolution.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

Yukon 180 Meter Digital Elevation Model
Homepage: http://polarcom.com/~patawi/GIS/yt180mdem.html
FreeGIS-summary on Yukon 180 Meter Digital Elevation Model ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

A moderate quality Digital Elevation Model covering the Yukon Territory, Canada with 180 meter pixels.
Version: 0.2
License: GPL

National Atlas of the United States
Homepage: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html
FreeGIS-summary on National Atlas of the United States ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Most of the map layers were compiled at a scale of 1:2,000,000. Most map layers cover the full geographic extent of the United States of America, although some cover the conterminous United States only. All data can be either be downloaded or ordered on CD. The data is in SDTS, E00, Shape and TIFF formats.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

GNS (GEOnet Names Server)
Homepage: http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/
FreeGIS-summary on GNS ; Last update: 10.09.2003 10:58:29.00 CEST

• The GEOnet Names Server (GNS) provides access to the National Imagery and Mapping Agencys (NIMA) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (US BGN) database of foreign geographic feature names. The database is the official repository of foreign place-name decisions approved by the US BGN. Approximately 20,000 of the databases features are updated monthly.
• Geographic Area of Coverage: Worldwide excluding the United States and Antarctica. For names in the U.S. and Antarctica, visit the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) web site.
• The GNS contains 3.95 million features with 5.42 million names (approximate).
• The coordinate system for data served by GNS is WGS84.
• The online database is updated on a bi-weekly schedule.

Version: -
License: Public Domain

2002 National Transportation Atlas Data
Homepage: http://www.bts.gov/gis/download_sites/ntad02/newusdownloadform.html
FreeGIS-summary on 2002 National Transportation Atlas Data ; Last update: 04.11.2003 15:54:08.00 CET

Shapefile download site of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). There are various data set for the US offered for download. You should definitely look at the metadata first in order to learn about the use policy. Some of the datasets are public domain, some are non-free.
Version: -
License: Partly Public Domain

CCM
Homepage: http://agrienv.jrc.it/activities/catchments/ccm.html
FreeGIS-summary on CCM ; Last update: 20.10.2004 22:42:55.00 CEST

River and Catchment Database for Europe: CCM stands for Catchment Characterisation and Modelling. Available themes: riversegments, catchments, sea outlets, wet.
Version: -
License: CCM License

Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data
Homepage: http://www.esri.com/data/download/census2000_tigerline/index.html
FreeGIS-summary on Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data ; Last update: 04.11.2003 16:26:04.00 CET

Users can download Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data in shapefile format for an area of interest that is selected through a web mapping application.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

ESRI World Basemap Data
Homepage: http://www.esri.com/data/download/basemap/index.html
FreeGIS-summary on ESRI World Basemap Data ; Last update: 04.11.2003 16:28:31.00 CET

Users can download World Basemap Data in shapefile format for an area of interest that is selected through a web mapping application
Version: -
License: Public Domain

SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)
Homepage: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/cbanddataproducts.html
FreeGIS-summary on SRTM ; Last update: 23.09.2002 12:44:54.00 CEST

Global digital elevation data information, mainly as raw images.
Version: -
License: Public Domain

Visible Earth Project
Homepage: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/
FreeGIS-summary on Visible Earth Project ; Last update: 11.04.2002 09:53:54.00 CEST

The purpose of NASAs Visible Earth is to provide a consistently updated, central point of access to the superset of NASAs Earth science-related images, animations, and data visualizations. Amoung these are for example the Blue Marble (highres true-color image of the earth) or city lights.
License: Public Domain

Further data (6 entries)

Baltic Sea Region - GIS, Maps and Statistical Database
Homepage: http://www.grida.no/prog/norbal/baltic/htmls/arcinfo.htm
FreeGIS-summary on Baltic Sea Region - GIS, Maps and Statistical Database ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Downloadable data for the batlic sea region: Administrative Units, Arable Lands, Land and Ocean (Coastline), Land Cover, Pasture Lands, Population Density, Sub-watershed Drainage Basins, Wetlands. No License. The data are in the 'public domain'. However, there is no 100% clear and official statement on 'how free' the data are. The data are available in ArcInfo and MapInfo format.

DRG Exchange
Homepage: http://216.36.33.21/~mgreger/GIS/
FreeGIS-summary on DRG Exchange ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

This site allows the free exchange of USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs). On this site, you will find DRGs that Michael J Greger has purchased and ones contributed by others.

TopoWest
Homepage: http://www.topowest.com
FreeGIS-summary on TopoWest ; Last update: 02.05.2002 17:06:53.00 CEST

Topowest provides scanned topographical maps (currently California, USA) with different resolutions. Maps are available as PNG files (georeferenced by worldfile) and GeoTIFF images.
Version: None
License: None

GeoGratis
Homepage: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/frames.html
FreeGIS-summary on GeoGratis ; Last update: 09.07.2002 20:17:46.00 CEST

GeoGratis is a web and ftp site that distributes geospatial data of Canada.

Map Digger
Homepage: http://mapdigger.com/
FreeGIS-summary on Map Digger ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

This site is an attempt to organize some of the amount of free maps on the web. "free" on this site means "downloadable"; you must check yourself whether the data are really free.

Inside Idaho
Homepage: http://www.insideidaho.org/
FreeGIS-summary on Inside Idaho ; Last update: 16.06.2002 16:55:23.00 CEST

Various datasets for Idaho (USA)
Version: -
License: -

Geo-Data-Shops (3 entries)

GIS Data Depot
Homepage: http://www.gisdatadepot.com/
FreeGIS-summary on GIS Data Depot ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

The GIS data depot offers free data. Unfortunately the user interface is not as staight-forward as it could be. Morover it is really overloaded with ads. The question whether and in which way the data are free are (not 100% satisfying) answered here:
Is the data really free for downloading?
Are there any copyrights associated with the free online data?
Besides the well known DCW (Digital Charts of the World) the depot contains further data for several regions.

Directions Magazine
Homepage: http://www.directionsmag.com/datacenter
FreeGIS-summary on Directions Magazine ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Data can be downloaded, but there are no detailed definitions on how "free" is defined in this context.

MapMart
Homepage: http://www.mapmart.com/
FreeGIS-summary on MapMart ; Last update: before 20th July 2001

Download only for demo data sets. Mainly data of the USGS.